284 I^ICK SANDS, THE BOY CAPTAIN. " But where are we to go ? *' rcpeated Dick, în despair ; " if only there were a hut ! But look, look there 1 " A vivid flash of lightning had lit up the country, and Dick declared that he could see a camp which could hardly be more than a quarter of a mile ahead. The negro looked doubtful. " I saw ît too," he assented : " but if ît be a camp at all it would be a camp of natives ; and to fall into that would involve us in a worse fate than the rain." Another brilliant flash brought the camp once Bgjain into relief ; it appeared to be made up of about a hunditd conical tents, arranged very symmetrically, each ofthem beîng from twelve to fifteen fect în height It had the appearance, from a distance, of being deserted ; îf ît were really so, it would afibrd just the shelter that was needed ; otherwisc, at all hazards, it must be most carefully avoided. " I will go în advancc," said Dick, after a moment's rcflcction, " and reconnoitre it." " Lct one of us, at least, go wîth you," replîcd Tom. " No, stay where you arc ; I shall be much less likely to be discovcred if I go alonc." Without another word, he dartcd ofT, and was soon lost in the sombre darkncss that was only broken by the fréquent lightning. Large drops of raîn werc now begînnîng to fall. Tom and Dick had bccn walking some little distance în advancc of the rest of the party, who consequently had not ovcrhcard thcir conversation. A hait bcing made, Mrs. Wcldon inquircd what was the mattcr. Tom explained that a camp or village had been noticcd a little way in front, and that the captain had gone forward to investigatc it. Mrs. Wcldon asked no furthcr questions, but quietly waitcd the rcsult. It was only a fcw minutes before Dick rcturncd.
- You may come on," he crîcd.
"Is the camp deserted ? " asked Tom. " It is not a camp at all ; it is a lot of ant-hîlls ! " " Ant-hills ! " echoed Benedict, suddenly aroused into a State of excîtcment.
